Flexible fastening device



Aug. 9,1932. N. STATHAM 1,870,658

FLEXIBLE FASTENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26. 1927 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED, STATES PATENT oi-FicE NOEL STATHAM, OF IRVINGTON-UPON-HUDSON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO HOOKLESS FASTENER COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION OF PENN-1 SYLVANIA FLEXIBLE FASTENING DEVICE Application filed October 26, 1927. Serial No. 228,803.

the male or as the female fastening element of the flexible or automatic fasteners of the present invention. Other objects and advantages of the devices of the present inventionwill in part be pointed out in detail hereinafter and will in part be obvious to those '20 skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

In the accompanying specification I shall describe, and in the annexed drawing show, an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown anddescribed for the purpose of illustration only.

. Referring to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one of the fastener elements of the present invention' c F fg. 2 is a top plan view of the fastener element illustrated in- Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Fig. 3 is'a bottom plan view of the fastener element illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the same in longit-udinal section; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the assembled device showing the automatic fastener embodying the fastening elements of the present invention and showing also a key or slider for operating the same, certain ofthe parts being shown broken away to make the showing clearer.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and

more particularly to the drawing illustrating the same, and referring especially to the fastener elements shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, such fastener elements ma for example, comprise elements general y designated by reference character 10 having the conical depression 11 on one face thereof.. I prefer that the fastening elements of the present invention shall embody the cooperating tape-clamping portions 13 and 14 having the jaw portions 13 and 14', respectively.

. I prefer-that the conical portion or elevation 12 shall substantiall correspond in dimensions to theconical epression 11. This may best be accomplished by making the depression 11 and the extension 12 in a single operation, the metal portion cut outby forming the depression 11 being added to and constituting a part of the metal of which the portion 12 is made. I prefer also that the base be both of the depression 11 and of the raised portion 12 shall be equal approximately to twice the altitude of the depression 11 and the'raised portion 12, respectively. I prefer also that the thickness of the sheet .of which fastener elements 10 of the present invention are formed,as by stamping the same out of such a sheet witha die, shall be approximately equal to the altitude both of the depression 11 and of the raised portion 12. This latter 1 feature is one of considerable importance since it permits a very compact arrangement of the fastener elements when assembled on their respective tapes, a feature which adds also to the strength of the completed device and to its accuracy and efliciency in operation.

The fastener elements 10 may now be assembled in two series, designated by reference characters 20 and.21, respectively. For this purpose the jaw portions 13 and 14 of the clamping jaws 13 and 14, constituting parts of the fastening elements 10, may be clamped about the beaded marginal portions 30 and 31 of the flexible supporting tapes 32 and 33, respectively. This arrangement is shown more clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawin where 40 indicates a key or slider of any suitable type for operating the automatic fasthereof and a substantia ly conical de res- I tening devices of the present invention-cinbodymg the. fastening elements described above.

i p This conipletes the description of the aforesaid' illustrative embodiment of. the present invention.- It will be noted that such enibodiment is simple in construction and may be readily, conveniently and economically fabricated and assembled. It will'also ap- 6 parent that both flexible elements making up the complete automatic fastening device of the present invention may embody and utilize the same identical fastening elements. Due to. the provision of the cooperating conical portions and the similarly shaped conical idepressions' in the cooperating fastening elements of the present invention, the'operation of the device is rendered smooth and accurate since the conical portions are accurately centered by the cooperating conical depressions. Other advantages an superiorities of the devices of the present invention will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art present invention relates. a

It may here be stated, that A designates the altitude, and B the base end of the conical depression and projection whose angle is be tween about 60 and about 90 degrees, preferably'about 90 degrees, while D represents the thickness of the sheet of which the fastener element is made.

What I claimas my invention is:

to which'the 1. A fastener element for automatic fas v sion on the other sidethereof, the ang e at the apex of said substantially conical male fastener portion being equal to about 90 degrees. H

3. A fastener element for automatic fasteners and the like comprising a substantial 1y conical male fastener portion on one side thereof and a substantially conical de ression on the other side thereof the altitude of said substantially conical male fastener portion above the average level of the surrounding material and of said substantially conical depression-being substantiall equal to about one-half of the diameter 0 said substantially conical male fastener portion at its base and of said substantially conical depression at its base, respectively.

4. A fastener element for automatic fasteners andthe like comprising a main body portion provided with-a'plurality of tapeclamping rtions adjacent one end thereof and provi ed adjacent the other end there of-w th asubstantially conical male fastener portion on one side thereof and a substantially conical depression on the other side thereof, the angle at the apex of said substantially}conica l male fastenerportion being equal to about 90 degrees, the altitude of sa d substantially conical ortion being substantially equal to half .0? the thickness of the material of which said fastener element is'made.

5. A flexible fasteningdevice comprising a plurality of cooperating flexiblefastenersupportin tapes each car ing a seriesof fastener e ements each ofvs ich comprises a substantially-conical male fastener ortion 'on one side thereof and a substantial y conical de ression on the other side thereof, the.

altitu e of said substantially conical male fastener portion above the average level of the surrounding material being substantially equal to about one-half of the diameter of said substantially conical'male fastener portionat its base.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed m name to this specification this 11th day of- Oct, 1927. I

Y NOEL STATHAM. 

